So I've been thinking a lot about what kind of hands you should ideally have in your squeezing range and would appreciate some help.

When we are IP and there is a single cold caller, one of the best squeeze bluff hands are the Axs. But the thing is that we don't really want to have only pp's and sc's in our overcalling range, so we'd need to overcall some Ax's to get some flush over flush action.

So A5s-A2s are some pretty standard combos in my 3bet ranges in many situations. But wouldn't we be better of overcalling some of the lower part Axs that don't block the first in flatters suited connectors like T9s and 98s. And then we would put the A9s-A6s in the squeezing range while still mixing in some Kx and SC's that aren't worth of overcalling.


Just some "shower thoughts" of mine that I decided to write out.


PS. Could someone point out some good overcalling material, because I'm having a bit hard time trying to figure out squeezing ranges and most of the problems exists, because I'm totally lost with overcalling ranges.

I see no real problem with squeezing with pocket pairs. Generally these are the hardest hands to play post flop, and your opponents 3bet calling range to a shove will consist of a large variety of hands that are 50/50, which makes the play +EV.

My range is never static, but I include about 25% premium hands to my squeezing range to balance, a couple of outright bluffs but a lot of hands that play decently in the case that your opponent is to call. Hands like K9 Q9 A6-A8 are normally dogs to a call, so unless I am really short stacked I call/fold these hands.

In regards to over calling literature, it really depends on what size you play at. Over calling ranges are obviously higher HU then in a 6-max event. I'm currently reading applications of NL hold'em by Janda, which will help you construct ranges. But once again it is entirely situational!

Care to elaborate on the 50/50 subject?

Why would you squeeze with pp's when you can almost 100% profitably overcall them to setmine because of the first in caller.

Also, their equity always takes a huge dive if you miss the flop, and this pretty much forces you to x/f on most boards, because you aren't really comfortable betting with almost 0 equity against 2 guys (remember that when the first in raiser flats, the first in flatter will also flat most of the time, because he is given good pot odds. And you don't get any blocker effect with pp's.

So you are getting totally exploited by players who defend optimally against squeezes, meaning they will 4bet a ~55-45 value-bluff range, with optimal frequency. And your range pretty much forces you to fold 75% of your squeezes, allowing villains to pretty much 4bet you with any two.

I don't like to squeeze unless I'm squeeze shoving or squeezing with the intention of never folding.

I don't like to squeeze just to fold. Perhaps this is what the above poster is trying to say.

Anyway, I don't really like to squeeze those mid pocket pairs all that often just to make life "easy" for me. I prefer squeezing with a hand that is most likely ahead even if it's not always ahead. Players will call you down loose just out of spite. Having said that I do it sometimes and often get burned by QQ+.

I don't even understand why I'm trying to get usable information from here..

As another poster suggested your range should be dynamic. My idea when you say squeeze is specifically the part of your 3bet range that would prefer to see the hand end preflop. If that is the case then the opponents involved will play a significant role in how you construct your range and what hands fit best as well as how they respond to 3bets and how well they play in 3bet pots.

That is quite a leak, and waste of so many +ev spots.

I have to disagree with squeezing with PP, at least those you don't intend to call a 4bet shove with ie 22 - TT, otherwise you're better calling or shoving.

The general rule for hands you should squeeze/3bet light with are those at the top of your folding range, ie Q9, J7s, KT. Whatever youre comfortable playing with as I would never normally do it unless they were suited.

Suited connecters such as T9s and 87s are debatable, it depends on the situation - whether it be better to call or raise - on how often they fold/call and how often you have been 3betting etc.

I think most people overcall way too wide, even in position.

If you chose to flat A5s 3-way, are you hoping to over-flush someone? It happens so infrequently that it's barely worth thinking about. All you'd really be doing is seeing a flop 3-handed with a dominated ace.
It's much better, imo, to 3-bet your normal 3-bet hands (like it was heads up), and flat very few combos. In some spots, your continuance range might need to be as tight as TT+/AK/AJs+/A5s. Personally, I'd typically 3-bet the hands with ace blockers and just call with pairs (QQ-TT). It might also be profitable to sometimes 3-bet squeeze IP with hands like 76s/65s.

Run some filters on your database. Are you making money by flatting otb when there's a raise and a call? Which hands are profitable in this spot? It no doubt depends on your skill level and the stakes you play, but it's the sort of thing that trackers were made for.

I really dislike datamining my own database. Mostly because I'm developing my game 24/7 so I don't really feel that over month or even few week old hands are worth looking into as I'm probably playing many scenarios way better.

But I've noticed that I'm constantly picking up dead money when I'm IP multiway.